I'm almost 8 months pregnant and I picked up a fabulous floral cotton blouse at a flea market. It fits wonderfully across my tummy with room to grow, but it gapes under my arms and there seems to be too much fabric around the neckline/bust if that makes sense. How can I make it fit better?
I would suggest taking in some fabric under the arms (darts) and as Judy suggested make some darts in the neck area.
Maybe you could just make the darts with a few tacking stitches and try it on to see if you need more or if it helps with the problem.
If it looks good then make the stitches more permanent.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I am struggling to get my blouse sleeves fitting properly. When I lift my arms, it is too tight under the arms and pulls across my back. Please help! Thanks.
By Kathy from South Africa
Believe it or not, it is usually because the shoulders are too big. Move the upper sleeve in more..try 1/2 inch and baste, then try more if needed.
You might try going up in blouse sizes, sometimes we women like to fit into a size, instead of fitting into what fits. Also, diff. manufacturers make clothes diff. one size may fit totally different than another manufacturer.
I don't think there is much you can do for a blouse that fits too small. If you really want to wear it maybe it would look cute left unbuttoned with a shirt underneath and belted at the waist.
The best solution for you would be homemade blouses that you can adjust the size of the arms. Do you sew or know someone who does?
Are you sewing this blouse and looking for advice on how to adjust the pattern? This is what it sounds like to me, but sadly, I am not a good enough sewer to help with that. Hopefully others like siris will come to your aid.
There's also something called a "gusset" that you can add to the arms eye of the blouse that will give you some extra room. It's an extra piece of fabric, shaped like an ogee, that you stitch in between the sleeve and the sleeve opening.
That is eaxactly what I need!
It's a weird link but I was able to get the link to work by copy and pasting it into my browser.
infashion-incubator.com/archive/gussets_and_collars/
My daughter bought a pretty blouse, but it was too big on the sides of the blouse. How do I alter the sides with a sewing machine to make it form fitting? I am a beginner on sewing so if you can make it easy to understand that would be helpful. Also if you have step by step pictures of how to do that would be very helpful. I have looked on line, but I don't see anything to help me.
By Sandra K. from Mobile, AL
I am 75 years old and have been sewing since I was 10. When I have to alter clothes, I do it the easy way, nobody would ever pay for it to be done the way I do it, but I don't care. I figure it's my business. What I do is figure out how much a garment has to be taken in and pin the sides then I use the sewing machine to take it in.
I would also recommend that before sewing you try the garment on. I also realize that for people that are perfectionists or have OCD to have a garment that is altered in that method. Depending on how large the alteration is you can trim off the amount that is in the seam after you do the sewing. I just have never had the time or patience to do my own alterations the way a professional would. When I was in high school I got "A" on the clothes I made in home ec., so I know the proper way of doing things.
Another way to alter a garment is to put it on inside out and hand baste (yes, with a needle and thread - be sure to leave a little 'wiggle room for wearing ease, and don't stab your daughter:).
Pay attention to the underarm area, and the sleeves - any alterations you make to the sides will require you to 'ease' those areas (arms and sleeves) to ensure it looks right after the alteration is made.
I could break it down into bullet points but the above makes it pretty clear. After the garment is hand basted, have your daughter take it off, turn it right side out, and try it on - this will tell you how it will look and fit after you carefully machine sew over your basting stitches.
It is sometimes easier to create a new seam up the front over the shoulder and down the back (on both sides) - if the blouse style will look right, it's a very simple way to alter a blouse or dress with sleeves that fit perfectly but is too wide otherwise. Again, to do this, the easiest way to do so is to have your daughter wear the blouse inside out so you can 'fit' it and hand baste the new seams.
I teach 'total newbs' here in Scotland - after 50+years in the USA where I also taught sewing. We do a lot of charity shop buying (Salvation Army, Red Cross, Heart Foundation, other charities with thrift shops) and I teach my students how to alter many items using this method - it works a treat!
The size I have to get in order to get a blouse to fit through the bust causes the blouse to be excessively large in the front below the bust and on the sides, especially when the blouse is worn unbuttoned over a cami. How can I alter the front/sides so they do not hang out so far in the front and/or sides that it makes me look bigger through the middle than I am?
Try wearing a belt around your waist.
If you sew, you can take up the seams on each side or get a seamstress to alter it for you. Knit or stretchy materials wouldn't be as loose fitting.
Boy, I know this problem well. My solution has been to basically give up on blouses, or cinch them with a belt, as previously described. There are certain clothes designers that would cater to a 'fuller figure', and here is a link to some worldwide:
If you sew, I believe you can add pins to the fabric at the sides to alter them. I don't know how because I can't sew but here's a fun site on how to alter things for big busts, in general a fun site with lots of info:
Learning to sew darts can be a bit of a nuisance, but once you've mastered the skill, it will prove invaluable: www.google.ca/
And of course you could hire someone to tailor your garments for you. Not a very thrifty solution, but it is an option.
Personally? I favour light-weight sweaters: better fit throughout, no ironing, very business-like under a suit jacket (if that's one of your concerns).
Good luck!
Sew darts from hemline to under the bust or darts in the back so as not to ruin the front line of the blouse.
Since this seems to be a problem that will not go away, I would suggest you "bite the bullet" and take a favorite blouse to a dressmaker/seamstress and get a feel for how they make the changes. Either have them explain what they are going to do or pay close attention to the completed work so you can copy it.
Try to pick a top that has a general look so maybe you can use it on different styles.
You may also try placing an ad on Craigslist for a seamstress and see if you can find someone who needs work but has to stay at home. Just be sure to see some of their work before leaving even one top and even then, only one or two at a time.
My daughter is short and she find someone to do her alterations for a very reasonable price.
A belt will enhance an already large bust area drawing more unwanted attention to the area. If your like me thats not what you want. What I have found easiest to do is add darts to the back and front of the blouse.two in the back two in the front. One dart on the left side of the blouse one dart on the right side of the blouse. You will want to keep the darts down low around or just below the waist. Good luck.
I buy blouses a larger size so the shoulders fit, however, they are always too large in the bust area. What is the best way to alter them to fit?
If you are adept at sewing, you can make thin, triangular darts at angles to help bring in the bust area. Be sure to pin carefully and try on (carefully so you don't get stuck) to make sure you like the lines before you stitch.
I am an accomplished seamstress and I can tell you, I would not undertake alterations any more because today's store bought clothes are very flimsy and the lines are going to be changed and they may not be comfortable in other places.
There are lots of YouTube videos to make these type of adjustments if you are a visual person. Just put altering blouses in YouTube's search.
I know this is an expensive option, but we have a friend whose sister had very similar issues to yours and she had a seamstress make her shirts custom. She invested in 7 shirts for work and rotated through them changing them up with jackets or scarves.
They were very high quality and lasted her for years before she had to have new ones made (and that was mostly due to style color pattern changes. Most of these were neutrals (cream, black, red, white and 2 pattern ones). It was the best decision she ever made!
Post back with updates!
If you can see, make a dart so that the point is at the center of the side of the breast.
Do you have a sewing machine? Alterations are difficult to do without one.
Are you adept at sewing more than just seam repairs?
Alterations can be very tricky - instructions may sound easy but rarely are and watching someone can be useful but the style of garment may not be the same as yours.
Do you have older blouses to experiment with?
Here is a link to a site that has a lot of information about alterations but there is a very good video on simple blouse alterations about half way down.
You can place a free ad on Craigslist, Nextdoor.com, OfferUp, LetGo and other local sites requesting help with blouse alterations with just your phone number so you can check them out before meeting them somewhere public.
You can discuss (over the phone) what alterations you need and if you find someone you cal let them do one blouse before committing to more pieces.
Do not be shocked by the rates as alterations are usually expensive but doing it this way you may find someone that just wants to make some extra money.
If you want to go the route of having custom made blouses I would suggest you have one blouse made, check it out and if it feels like you want it to, discuss making several blouses using the same pattern (should be less money than the first 'prototype').
If you do this you can buy any material you like and build a nice wardrobe.
Several options but only you know what will work best for you.
I just bought a brand new blouse online. It fits nicely, however, the lower part of the blouse feels tight across my hips when I button up the last button.
I was thinking if I should get it altered by adding slits at the sides. Would that help?
Thanks!
That could work. If it is a new blouse you are better off sending it back.
If it is brand new, why not return it and find something else?
Altering works sometimes, but today's fabrics and how they are seamed make it a challenge to do alterations. Often the fabric is of a poor quality that one cut and the entire thing ravels or frays and you then have a big mess on your hands.
Post back with an update on what you decide. I would hope with a receipt, the return could be easy.
I do not believe you would be satisfied with doing alterations and unless you can make these changes yourself, alterations can be very expensive.
Do not leave this new top hanging in your closet; return it and find one that fits.
When buying online, always ask about measurements to make sure something will fit.
I'd return it. If you have slits added, you might have flaps that will sit outwardly at the bottom that will not be flattering
My brother-in-law got me a beautiful blouse in China. But I think the language barrier got in the way and he purchased a child's size. The front material is gorgeous and the back is plain black crepe, with a mandarin collar. I need about 8 inches more in width in the back and some more room in the sleeves. Can anyone think of a way to make this that much bigger? Or how can I use the front material and sew into another Asian inspired blouse? The front brocade material is a very traditional Asian print. Thanks.
By Fran from Dallas, TX
I guess I would go with using the front to make a different blouse, if you can find a pattern that it would work on.
You might be able to add solid color cuffs and either border a large square of the back or add side panels to make the blouse larger. Black would set off most oriental fabrics. You could also keep the front and use a solid color for the back. My aunt is an avid quilter and has made all sorts of interesting tops this way. I have a fabulous vest that was made from too little fabric that she then bordered and added two inch quilter squares around the outside. It looks great and is really unique.
The side seams would work, or else you could cut a slit down the middle of the back and insert a triangular piece of coordinating fabric which would widen the back to have a slight wider hem area which is oriental looking.
Probably, I would do the side seams with pieces of coordinating fabric that is patch worked in long strips of coordinated colors and fabrics. Or if nothing else works, perhaps make a beautiful one of a kind bag out of the top, and use the top of the shirt cut out and finished as a dickey for under sweaters. I don't know the value of the fabric.
Hope it works out for you.
Maybe you could open the side seam and the seam down the under arm and add a triangular black crepe gusset to the sleeve plus an inset piece into the side seam. Be careful not to lower the underarm of the armscye. Baste and try it on.
In doing this you have done nothing that prevents you from returning the blouse to its original configuration.
I have a blouse that that has spaghetti straps on each side of a top under it. The problem is that the wide bra where you fasten it in back, shows above the back of the shirt. How do I alter it so it won't show? Will I have to pull up the ends of the spaghetti straps close to bra on each side and sew it? How will I do it?
By Sandra K. from Mobile, AL
Basically, you'll need to do this on the back of your blouse. You will tuck the straps in to the top of the back of your blouse and sew them in place. Have a person measure this for you because it is hard to do this on your own. You won't be able to see the back of your blouse and how much to tuck the straps in to sew them in place. They can pin them for you and then all you'll need to do is sew them in place.
Fold down the excess strap and tuck the fold down at the back of the garment
Tack it down with several stitches
The blouse back should now be high enough to hide the bra
I ordered 4 blouses online, and it turned out to be the wrong size. It's 6x which is the largest size they had. I'm 16 years old and would like to know how could I make the blouse bigger for me? The fabric is cotton and polyester. Please someone help.
By Tyvia
It would depend on the style of the blouse and how much bigger you need it. Without that information it will be hard for anybody to give you advice. That being said, are you a competent seamstress or know how to sew?
You sound as though you have more than a little understanding of sewing (you mention the fabric content), so as a sewing teacher, I'm going to suggest the following:
Put on the foundation garments you will wear with this blouse (bra, cami, both).
Put the blouse on inside out - unbuttoned or fastened.
With a flexible tape measure, measure and write down how many inches you need and where to make the blouse close properly, and so that the sleeves aren't too tight.
Then take the blouse off, lay it out on the table or bed, and look at it from several angles - walk around it looking at it thinking "If I open the shoulder seams on both sides then cut from front to back hem, and then insert a fabric panel (matching or contrasting) with a 1/4" seam allowance on each side of each panel where I sew it into the blouse, how many inches of fabric panel would I need, and how would it look when I was finished?"
You can do the same with the sleeve - open the shoulder seam where it meets the sleeve, cut straight up the middle of the sleeve, insert a fabric panel, and then stitch it with a 1/4" seam allowance at each side of the panel to the cut you made in the sleeve.
You can really change the look of the blouse if you use a contrasting set of panels, or you can simply enlarge the blouse maintaining the essential look by inserting matching panels - be sure to choose a match in both colour and fabric content to maintain the style.
Good luck! This will work (I know because I've done it) and if you are very careful, you will be able to have the look of that blouse on you, in your size:)
